House panel meetings to resume from June 21

NEW DELHI: After a gap of more than two months, Indian parliamentary committees will resume their meeting from June 21, authorities involved in the planning said on Tuesday.

“The chairpersons of the standing committees have been informed that they can resume panel meetings from June 21,” said a senior MP who heads a panel. Officials maintained that

June 21 was chosen keeping in mind the ongoing lockdown in some states. Authorities expect that by June 21, the remaining restrictions will be lifted amid an improving Covid situation in large parts of the country.

On June 21, the government will also switch to the centralised vaccine programme, in which the Union government will provide free vaccine to the states. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Monday that the states will not have to pay for the vaccines and all adults can receive free vaccines organised by the Centre. When the second wave of Covid hit India in March, leaving the Capital and large parts of the country reeling, many House committees had to cancel their meetings and no new meeting were planned. Indian Parliament could work for only 34 days since the pandemic hit Indian shores in March 2020. The winter session of 2020 had to be cancelled while last 3 sessions were cut short.